Dream Theater bassist John Myung recently discussed the impact of Mike Portnoy’s return to the band. He shared his thoughts in an interview with Words & Music.
Myung’s comments came in response to a question about what dynamic Portnoy’s return has brought to Dream Theater’s live performances.
“Well, dynamic of completion. I think the only place you could really return to is home. You can you can leave, but if you want to come back, there’s only one place that you can call home,” Myung said.
The bassist emphasized the positive impact of having Portnoy back in the lineup.
“So, the fact that Mike is back, it’s great to have him back, you know. So, we’re a full house and it feels great to have, you know, Mike back in the band,” he continued. “You know, there’s just this unwritten communication that happens when you have a chemistry with people that you work with. And I think that chemistry, you know, how do you determine if you have chemistry or not?”
Myung explained how the band recognizes their musical chemistry.
“I think you can determine if you have chemistry if you don’t have to say anything and things just happen. Everyone just plays the perfect part. There’s no need to explain,” he said. “So it’s that unwritten communication that gives us the chemistry that we have you know and that’s what makes what we do special.”
Myung’s reflections on the band’s renewed chemistry come at a significant time in Dream Theater’s history. The group has successfully navigated one of the most challenging periods in their career.
Blabbermouth reported that Portnoy returned to Dream Theater in October 2023 after being replaced by Mike Mangini. Mangini played with the band across five studio albums. The reunion marked the end of a 13-year separation that began when Portnoy resigned from the band in September 2010.
The band’s keyboardist Jordan Rudess has also expressed enthusiasm about Portnoy’s return. Blabbermouth noted that Rudess called Portnoy’s return “welcome home” for its unique skills in setlists and production. This highlights the drummer’s valuable contributions beyond just his musical performance.
The reunion has allowed Dream Theater to move forward with their original lineup intact. Tracking Angle reported that the band is now forging a new chapter following what was described as “the unthinkable” when Portnoy first resigned in 2010. This period marked the first time Dream Theater faced such a significant lineup change in their career.
The band’s ability to reunite after more than a decade apart demonstrates the enduring bonds between the original members and their shared musical vision. This sets the stage for what many fans hope will be a new era of creativity and collaboration.
